Publishers Weekly wrote:Following his career as a federal prosecutor and a trial judge, Gray, now a California Superior Court justice, is struck by the revelation that the so-called war on drugs was "wasting unimaginable amounts of our tax dollars, increasing crime and despair and severely and unnecessarily harming people's lives... the worst of all worlds." He effectively documents a growing coalition of often conservative lawyers, legislators and justices who view the drug war's impotent dream of national abstinence as folly and its shadow effects (from imprisonment of nonviolent offenders to diversion of law enforcement resources) as dangers to liberty.

"Drugs" is a very broad term, too broad to actually take a particular side. but if your speaking purely of marijuana i think it should be legalized, it doesn't really matter tho. illegal or not people will continue smoking either way. marijuana is already readily avalible to anyone who wants it.

"I hope you can't sleep and you dream about it
And when you dream I hope you can't sleep and you SCREAM about it
I hope your conscience EATS AT YOU and you can't BREATHE without me"

I haven't ever done drugs, but as far as Marijuana goes, I have pretty much an uncountable amount of friends who smoke it at least a few times a month. I think there's a stigma against it in society since the 50s, when the bottom line is it is either harmful or equally as harmful as alcohol. I say enforce about the same laws as alcohol and legalize it.

I definitely agree that there should be a distinction between pot and other drugs. This is because, at least all the research that I've found, is that it isn't an addicting drug. Other 'harder drugs' such as heroin, kinda scare me, and I think that people should be careful about them. I think its heroin that requires medically supervised detox, right?

However, I do think that pot should be legalized. I guess this is my frankly Canadian take on matters, but I figure that people are doing it anyway, so why bother making it illegal? Legalizing pot would allow the government to regulate the supply, and they could possibly generate governmental revenue if they taxed it like cigarettes.

I also think that prostitution should be legal. But, that's a completely different story.

KaeMartyndale wrote:
However, I do think that pot should be legalized. I guess this is my frankly Canadian take on matters, but I figure that people are doing it anyway, so why bother making it illegal? Legalizing pot would allow the government to regulate the supply, and they could possibly generate governmental revenue if they taxed it like cigarettes.

I also think that prostitution should be legal. But, that's a completely different story.

KaeMartyndale wrote:
However, I do think that pot should be legalized.

Hell yeah Kae!! Putting it out there!! I LOVE it!! You got some balls baby!! But all joking aside, very good point Kae, well put! But "other" drugs, they scare me too noooooo thanks!

I really think people underestimate marijuanna as a drug. I'm definitely not against legalization or anything like that, it's just that I hate to hear people say that pot isn't a drug just because a lot of people do it. It's still an opiate. Period. Lol but anyway...I don't see what more harm legalization of marijuanna can really cause; We've got legal pescriptions that are wayyyy worse....xanax/tabs/oxy. Blah blah blah.

SeoulChild wrote: I'm definitely not against legalization or anything like that, it's just that I hate to hear people say that pot isn't a drug just because a lot of people do it. It's still an opiate. Period.

Marijuana isn't an opiate, it is a cannabinoid derivative (from the cannabis sativa plant). Opiates are derived (naturally) from poppies. Opiates include heroin, morphine, etc.

Edited to say: I don't use drugs, though this post makes it seem like I do. I majored in psychology, and we do a lot of research on different classifications of drugs, and their effects, etc. I actually had one professor who was studying the behavioural aspects of heroin addiction by allowing rats to self-administer heroin via pushing a lever in their cage. Fascinating stuff.

KaeMartyndale wrote: I actually had one professor who was studying the behavioural aspects of heroin addiction by allowing rats to self-administer heroin via pushing a lever in their cage. Fascinating stuff.

I am from Holland and my opinion should then not surprise anymore. I am for legalisation.

It is not only the drug that is doing all the damage. It is the criminal atmosphere around it. If it is difficult to get some marijuana and you need to find dealers to get a little bit of herbal stimulants, it is only a small step further to other criminal activities. Since you are then already in touch with the wrong people, in an uncontrolled environment and more, it is not unlikely that you slip further away.

Another argument: WHY IS ALCOHOL LEGAL?
Alcohol is legal, and can be bought anywhere. Does anyone know how many families are ruined by alcohol? It also has way more worse effects in man than marijuana. Alcohol creates angry people that fight and kill. Marihuana doesn't. How many drunk drivers are there out on the street every night, because it is legal to buy alcohol? When using marijuana, you still can control yourself and remember. Drunks do not even remember what they did the night before. That is a waste of life!

In my opinion alcohol is way more damaging than marijuana. But everybody is totally ok with drinking a beer or a glass of wine. Then what is the big deal about Marijuana?